Bush the ‘joyful tortoise’ stumbles in race for the Republican nomination
NOT long ago, he was calling himself a “joyful tortoise”. But over the weekend the image Jeb Bush, once presumed heir to the Republican nomination for the White House, presented of calm, cheerful optimism finally disappeared.
A day after being forced to slash his staff, a rattled Mr Bush took to the stage on Saturday at a rally in the staunchly Republican state of South Carolina.
In contrast to his early promise to be “joyful” and determined, if slow off the mark, in response to the insurgency of Donald Trump, he denounced his rivals, the tone of the contest and even the party’s followers.
They were risking Washington gridlock by supporting causes that were popular within the party faithful but unrealistic, he suggested.
“If this election is about how we’re going to fight to get nothing done, then I don’t want anything, I don’t want any part of it,” he told the audience. “I’ve got a lot of really cool things I could do other than sit around, being miserable, listening to people demonise me and feeling compelled to demonise them. That is a joke. Elect Trump if you want that.”
The outburst was meant as a takedown of Mr Trump. But in the light of his decision to cut the campaign’s payroll by 40 per cent and dramatically reduce travel costs, along with a further worsening in his poll ratings, it took on a more petulant tone.
The brother and son to two previous presidents, he was expected to assume the mantle of nominee with ease. However, Mr Bush has failed to set the cam- paign alight. His performances in the televised Republican debates have been lacklustre, while he has been prone to gaffes.
He languishes fifth in the polls, trailing behind not only Mr Trump but Ben Carson, a doctor who denies the truth of evolution, and Marco Rubio, his former protégé.
His staff cuts were enforced despite an unrivalled war chest of $133 million.
Though Mr Bush remains the candidate of choice for much of the Republican establishment, close supporters have expressed concerns the former Florida governor may not have what it takes. Several top Bush donors have been privately speaking to the campaign of Mr Rubio, the Florida senator, and some have started to defect, a source told The Daily Telegraph.
“I’m not getting out,” Mr Bush told Fox News – something not many have even suggested. “I believe we have a plan to be very competitive in the early states. We have the resources to stay with this.”